Hillsboro, Beaverton, Washington County to expand accessible education with local grants

Accessibility to early learning programs in Washington County is set to expand, thanks to local investments.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, the Early Learning Washington County hub announced it had secured two grants totaling nearly $150,000, with plans to support both educational and civic engagement initiatives in the area.

The first grant, totaling $50,000, will fund the “STEAM Kids Wonderland” project — an initiative designed to expand access to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics education. Awarded by the PNC Foundation, the project focuses on children ages three to five, as well as those with developmental delays who may be older.

“STEAM Kids Wonderland will prioritize the development of cognitive, motor and socioemotional skills, while also supporting family engagement and early literacy and numeracy,” the organization said in a release.

The program will be offered at various locations across the county, bringing together parents, children, educators and volunteers to explore STEAM activities through hands-on learning that parents can continue at home.

Additionally, parent leaders and early childhood educators will benefit from a $99,000 grant awarded by the cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton. Under a new project, the funding will be used to empower parents to take an active role in creating a stronger, more inclusive early learning system.

“By addressing barriers to parent participation, such as a lack of support and compensation, ELWC will foster a community where parents are valued partners in their children’s education,” the organization stated.

The new programming will also help bring parents into decision-making processes when early education discussions take place at state and local levels.

Accessible education has been a persistent issue in Washington County, with advocates in 2022 pushing for universal preschool to address cost barriers that hinder early learning opportunities. More recently, the conversation has shifted to include the challenges of child care shortages, a problem that local workforce recovery programs have been actively working to address.

“We are incredibly grateful to receive these grants,” said Begoña Rodriguez Liern, director of Early Learning Washington County. “These funds will enable us to make a significant impact on the lives of young children and their families in our community. By investing in early STEAM education and empowering parent leaders, we are building a stronger foundation for our children’s future.”

A partnership between United Way of Columbia-Willamette and Washington County’s Department of Health and Human Services, Early Learning Washington County forges partnerships through organizations, parents and communities to establish programming and stimulate equitable learning for local children.

To learn more about Early Learning Washington County, visit earlylearningwashingtoncounty.org .